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Fractal geometry as the synthesis of Hindu cosmology in Kandariya

Mahadev temple, Khajuraho
Iasef Md Rian, Jin-Ho Park, Hyung Uk Ahn
Department of Architecture, Inha University, South Korea
Received 4 May 2006; received in revised form 21 July 2006; accepted 15 January 2007

Abstract

The underlying relationship between Hindu cosmology and fractal theory is manifested in Hindu temple where fractal geometry acts as
the language. This paper has analyzed the Kandariya Mahadev temple at Khajuraho as the paradigm of Hindu temples with regard to
fractal geometry and describes the syntheses of fractal features of the temple from the Hindu cosmology and philosophy.
r 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords: Cosmic energy; Degree of details; Fractal dimension; Iteration; Self-similar repetitions; Vastu Purusha Mandala

1. Introduction Although employed in various fields for different roles,2

The properties of self-similar repetitions, abundance of
textural details, and cascades of shape in architecture have
been characterized by fractal geometry [1]. Coined by
Mandelbrot in 1970s, fractal theory has been widely
applied for the analysis and synthesis of architectural
and urban designs [1–4, 17–20]. The term, ‘fractal,’ comes
from the Latin word ‘Fractus’ which means ‘broken’ or
‘irregular’ or ‘unsmooth’.1
Mathematical property for the creation of fractal
geometry has been known as iteration. Different rules of
iteration create different fractal figures (Fig. 1). The
property of endlessness in the process of iteration makes
fractal figure as the microcosm of infinity. Due to its
never-ending nature, fractal geometry cannot be possible
to explain by Euclidian geometry, but be possible by
computer-generated programs and computational techni-
ques such as Shape Grammar [21]. In nature there are
plenty of fractal-like objects which are not true fractal, but
up to certain range of scales they display fractal properties
[5].
Corresponding author.
1 2
Mandelbrot and frame. Geometry of self-contacting binary fractal
trees. The mathematical intelligencer, 1999. They defined fractal on the
basis of binary fractal tree as the recursively by symmetric binary
branching.
fractal geometry has been applied particularly, in
architecture as a language which translates the beauty of
complexity as well as the ideas of architects [6]. It also
reflects the process of universe and its energy through the
buildings [7]. Hindu temple is one of the best examples of
those fractal buildings which were constructed in the past,
far before than the birth of fractal theory and manifested
the religious cosmic visions [8].
This paper mainly deals with the fractal geometry that
performs the key role for transforming or manifesting the
Hindu cosmology and philosophy into the divine diagrams
(so-called vastu purusha mandala) and then to the structure.
First, the Hindu cosmology and philosophy has been
briefly reviewed. And then, the divine diagram of vastu
purusha mandala and its application to the temple structure
has been introduced. Second, Kandariya Mahadev Temple
at Khajuraho has been briefly introduced for the further
study. Third, a ‘box counting method’ has been introduced
for the analysis of the temple with regard to fractal
geometry. Lastly, Kandariya Mahadev temple has been
analyzed with regard to fractal geometry through the
application of Hindu cosmology and philosophy.
C. Pickover. Fractal horizons: the future use of fractals. St. Martin’s
Press, New York, 1996. It points out the application of fractals and its role
in different major fields: Education, Art, Science, Music, Medicine,
Mathematics, etc.

0360-1323/$ - see front matter r 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2007.01.028

Please cite this article as: Md Rian I, et al. Fractal geometry as the synthesis of Hindu cosmology in Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho. Building
and Environment (2007), doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2007.01.028
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Fig. 1. Top: development of a fractal figure from a single circle by the iteration having some definite rule. Bottom: development of different fractal figure
from the same circle but by the iteration having different rule.
2. A brief review of hindu cosmology and philosophy
Hindus believe that the universe is created, destroyed,
and re-created in an endless repetitive series of cycles where
Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the sustainer and Shiva is
the destroyer, and all of them are the trinity of
Parameshwar, the Supreme Being who is the manifested
form of the whole infinity3. He is the principal creator of
the universe. According to the myth, before each successive
series of the creation of universe, a lotus is grown from the
navel of Vishnu and then Brahma is born over it as the
incarnation of the supreme God. Brahma starts creating the
universe in a Brahma-day and destroys it in a Brahma-night
and again creates the new universe next day. He repeats
this process for 100 Brahma-years until his death. After his
death, Brahma is born again and starts the new cycle of
creation. A universe takes 4,320,000,000 years to be
survived and same years to be destroyed. Hence, a universe
is the result of time that follows the cosmic order in which a
fraction of moment is the microcosm of biggest time unit. 4
Another myth says that mount meru5 is the axis of the
cosmos. According to the Mahabharata, 6 gods twisted the
mount meru to find their most precious elixir, amrita 7
which was lost during the terrible flood in the cosmic
ocean8. During twisting, the ocean became churned and
3
Winthrop Sargeant and Chrostopher Chappel. Bhagavad Gita: an
interlinear translation from the sanskrit. State University of New York
Press, revised edition, 1987.
4
100 Brahma-years—death and rebirth // kalpa—1000 mahayugas //
mahayuga—4 yugas //yuga—10,000 divine years // divine year—360
sidereal years // life cycle—birth, death, rebirth //year—summer and
winter // day and night // breathing: inhale–exhale // bhavanga—
consciousness wave ðmsÞ (refer to [9, p.7]).
5
According to Hindu mythology mount meru is the center of universe
where Brahma dwells along with other deities. Mythology says that it is
450,000 km high and located in Jambudvipa, one of the continents on earth
in Hindu mythology.
6
Mahabharata is the most ancient epic in India where the stories of
Krishna, one of the trinity of Hindu gods, were included along with other
godly beings.
7
According to Hindu mythology amrita is an elixir which makes the
gods alive forever. If someone drinks this amrita, death never comes to
him.
8 13
According to Hindu cosmology, the space of cosmos is a kind of ocean
which is full of milk.
Please cite this article as: Md Rian I, et al. Fractal geometry as the synthesis of Hindu cosmology in Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho. Building
and Environment (2007), doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2007.01.028
gods found their elixir, and at the same time the every being
in the universe was produced.
According to Hindu philosophy, the main goal of man’s
life is to achieve the ultimate liberation from the illusionary
world where he suffers from his endless rebirth. Krishna
says in Bhagavad Gita,9 if man worships, devotes and
meditates to the manifested form of the wholeness of
infinity, and sees the truth of its manifestation; he will
surpass the confusion of the never-ending cycles of rebirth
in this physical world, and finally will assimilate with the
God. 10 Hindu calls it moksha.11 It brings the ultimate
peace and harmony in man’s life. But how one, from the
physical world, can practice to realize this ultimate truth of
the creation? Brihatsamhita12 and Sthapatyaveda13 give the
solution as the temple which should act as the microcosm
of the cosmos [9]. It should be the bridge for the man of
physical world to the God of divine world [10].
To connect the physical world with the divine world and
to reflect the truth of creation, the layout of cosmos was
copied graphically in the foundation of temple. Here, a
mythical incident was interwoven where a formless being
covered the sky and was, immediately, arrested down to the
earth by the creator Brahma and other gods. This
supernatural fact was depicted graphically by vastu purusha
mandala, where vastu refers to physical environment,
purusha refers to energy, power or cosmic being, and
mandala is the diagram or chart. Central portion of the
mandala represents the place of Brahma and other portions
symbolize the other gods according to their capability. By
laying down this metaphysical diagram in the foundation,
various supernatural forces are captured beneath the
temple whereas its centre is the source of cosmic energies.
The basic shape of the vastu purusha mandala is a square
9
Bhagabat Gita is one of the most authentic Hindu scriptures in which
there have own words’ of the Lord Krishna, a trinity of God.
10
Winthrop Sargeant and Chrostopher Chappel. Bhagavad Gita: an
Interlinear Translation from the Sanskrit. State University of New York
Pr, revised edition, 1987.
11
‘Moksha’ is a Sanskrit word which means ‘freedom’. In Hindu
scriptures moksha depicts the ultimate liberation from the cycles of rebirth
in this physical world.
12
Brihatsamhita is one the most authentic Hindu scriptures.
Sthapatya Veda is the most ancient scriptures for the Indian tradition
of architecture.
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Fig. 2. Left: plan of Kandariya Mahadev temple (11th century): (1) Garbhagriha, (2) Pradakshinapth, (3) Mandapa, and (4) Arthamandapa. Right:
East–West section of Kandariya Mahadev temple.
which represents the earth [11]. Its four sides depict the
four cardinal directions. It also symbolizes the order, the
completeness of endless life and the perfectness of life and
death [10]. According to Hindu philosophy, our mundane
life is controlled by the number four—four castes, four
stages of life, four great epochs or mahayugas, four heads
of Brahma, the four Vedas etc. [12].
There are various types of vastu purusha mandala, which
are nothing but the squares grids, produced from the basic
shape; namely, a square which is known as sakala mandala.
Each smaller square within the grid is called one pada. The
number of pada may vary from 1, 4, 9, 16, 25 and so on
1024, where it follows the geometric progression of 1, 2, 3,
4, 5,y,32 of common ratio 2. The mandala having even
numbers of pada in its grid known as yugma squares
mandala whereas the mandala, having odd numbers of pada
known as ayugma squares mandala. Vastu purusha mandala
is also known as different distinctive names according to
the numbers of pada within the grid. The mandala having
1,4,9,16,25 and 36 numbers of pada within the grid are
known as sakala mandala, pechaka mandala, pitah mandala,
mahapitah mandala, manduka chandita mandala and para-
masayika mandala, respectively14.
3. Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho, 1030 A.D.
Kandariya Mahadev temple at Khajuraho sets the
benchmark of Hindu art in India. This temple was
constructed in the middle of 11th century when Hindu
temples had attained the highest point of matured design.
During the period, all kinds of Hindu art including
sculpture, music and dance, were intermingled in temple
designs [22]. Kandariya Mahadev temple has height about
31 m. It is elevated above a lofty plinth which makes the
temple structure sanctity and monumental. The structure is
30.5 m long and 20 m wide, faced to the east to welcome the
14
For more information regarding vastu purusha mandala, its history
and application to the Indian traditional architecture in deep, see V.
Chakrabarti. Indian Architectural theory and practice; contemporary uses
of vastu vidya. Routledge Curzon, 1999.
Please cite this article as: Md Rian I, et al. Fractal geometry as the synthesis of Hindu cosmology in Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho. Building
and Environment (2007), doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2007.01.028
3
first rays of sun. The whole structure consists of four major
parts (Fig. 2):
1. Grbhagriha, i.e., sanctuary where the main deity has
been kept.
2. Pradakshina path, i.e., circumambulatory path having
three sides balcony bringing ventilation and light to the
interior.
3. Mandapa, i.e., columned assembly hall having two sides
balcony.
4. Artha mandapa, i.e., entrance porch.
Kandariya Mahadev temple stands out from other
temples of the region due to its grand scale with elaborated
building design as a whole and ornamentation. The
well-controlled zigzag plan of the temple creates the
vertical visual rhythm, accentuated in the elevation
through its sharp recessions and projections, whereas the
horizontal friezes on the elevation create the horizontal
rhythmic growth upward (Fig. 3).
The most distinctive part of the temple is its lofty curved
towers above the sanctuary. It is known as shikhara.
Shikhara is crowned by an amalaka,15 a ribbed circular
motif, and a pot finial, known as the kalasha, a sacred pot
in which the most precious elixir amrita had been kept.
Here in the shikhara, the amalgamation of the form of lotus
blossom and that of mountain has been frozen into the
form of multiple recursive archetypes. Replicas of the
towers are the most distinctive character in the Kandariya
Mahadev temple.
Like exterior, interior of the Kandariya Mahadev temple
is elaborated with ornamentation. At exterior it has more
than 646 numbers of figures whereas 226 numbers of
figures were sculpted in interior. There is no boundary
between interior and exterior in terms of ornamentation
and detailing.
15
‘Amalaka’ is a kind of fruit available in north part of India. According
to Hindus amalaka is a sacred fruit. In most of the Hindu temples,
amalaka was adopted as the finial on shikhara.
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Fig. 3. Left: front elevation; middle: north elevation; and right: back elevation.
4. Fractal dimension and box counting method
In fractal geometry, fractal dimension is the quantity
which measures the fractalness of an object. For any fractal
object fractal dimension is always non-integer, i.e., unlike
integer-dimensional objects (zero-dimensional point, one
dimensional line, two dimensional square and three
dimensional cube) fractal object is a fractional-dimensional
which may be in between one dimensional and two
dimensional object, or in between two dimensional and
three dimensional object. For in between one-dimensional
and two-dimensional fractal object fractal dimension ‘D’ is
always more than 1 and less than 2 (i.e., 1oDo2Þ, whereas
for in between two- and three-dimensional fractal object
the fractal dimension ‘D’ is always more than 2 and less
than 3 (i.e., 2oDo3Þ.
There are various methods to evaluate the fractal
dimension, among which the ‘box counting method’ is
suitable for measuring the fractal dimension of the
elevation of buildings, mountains, trees or any objects
which are not true fractal. Albeit, ‘self-similarity dimension
method’ is very common for calculating the fractal
dimension, but the method is only applicable for the true
mathematical fractals where self-similar structures are
found at all zooming scales.16
Fractal dimension calculated by ‘box counting method’
measures the fractalness of an image on the basis of
roughness or textureness or the amount of details. Images
having fractal dimensions 1.1–1.5 indicate less roughness
and details they have, whereas images having fractal
dimension 1.6–1.9 but less than integer value 2, exhibit
16
Other well known methods include ‘measured dimension method’ or
‘structured walk method’ which is only applicable for the overlapping
curves, while the other methods (like box counting and self-similarity
dimension methods) cannot include the part of overlapping curves. Self-
similarity dimension is believed to be the standard fractal dimension of a
pure fractal object and equivalent to Mandelbrot’s fractal dimension. But
‘box counting method’ measures the fractal dimension of those objects
which are not true mathematical fractal. This method basically measures
the rate of roughness or detail-ness of an image, but not an object itself.
Accordingly, ‘box counting method’ is the suitable and preferable method
to calculate the fractal dimension of the images of buildings, mountains,
trees or any objects which are not true fractal. Box counting dimension is
also equivalent to Mandelbrot’s fractal dimension. For more details, refer
to Lorenz [13].
Please cite this article as: Md Rian I, et al. Fractal geometry as the synthesis of Hindu cosmology in Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho. Building
and Environment (2007), doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2007.01.028
high textureness and abundance of details. Roughness of
the images having fractal dimensions 1.21–1.25 or the
dimensions 1.81–1.86 are visually not so much distinguish-
able by naked eyes. But naked eyes can easily distinguish
the images having fractal dimensions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,y, 1.8
and 1.9, separately.
To evaluate the fractal dimension of an image by ‘box
counting method’, firstly a squares grid is overlaid on the
image where the size of each grid box, let ‘S’, determines
the scale of the grid. Then the boxes, having any mark or
line of the image within the grid, are counted; let it is ‘N’.
After repeating the same process on the same image by
changing the box size, fractal dimension ‘D’ of that image
can be obtained by transforming the results of ‘S’ and ‘N’
into the log–log graph. The slope of the resulting line of the
log–log graph determines the fractal dimension of the
image.
There are various software that can directly calculate the
fractal dimension of an image by following the basic
process of ‘box counting method’. In this paper, the
software of ‘Box Counting Demonstration’17 has been
employed for counting the marked boxes. For the analyses,
all parts of the temple have been taken as two-dimensional
images by keeping the information about image sizes and
their resolutions.
For example, by taking the box sizes or grid sizes 24, 12,
6 and 3 of a squares grid for a fractal image of 60 mm 
43:5 mm with resolution 80 pixels/cm, marked boxes are
counted by the ‘Box-Counting Demonstration’ software
(Fig. 4). Then by taking the log of grid sizes ðSÞ on the
X -axis and log of marked boxes ðNÞ on the Y -axis
following results have been obtained as shown in Table 1
(Graph 1).
Slope of the resulting line in log–log graph shows the
fractal dimension of the image is 1.55. The resulted points
lied on a smooth straight line in the graph indicate the
uniformity of details of the image in different scales. Here
fractal dimension 1.55 confirms that the level of details of
the fractal image is medium.
17
The software of ‘Box-Counting Demonstration’ was developed by
Martin Nezadal, Institute of Physical and Applied Chemistry, Brno
University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic for determining the
fractal dimension of an image through box counting method.
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Fig. 4. Box counting operation of a fractal figure. Extreme left—fractal figure; (a) grid size 24; (b) grid size 12; (c) grid size 6; and (d) grid size 3.

Table 1 way. ‘Fig. 5’ shows the fractal characteristics of different

mandalas and their iterations from the sakala mandala.
Step Grid size ðSÞ Marked boxes ðNÞ Log ðSÞ Log ðNÞ
At the same time by laying down the diagram of mandala
1 24 140 1.380 2.146 in the foundation of temple, cosmic energies were grasped
2 12 420 1.079 2.623 beneath the structure. The center of mandala is the source
3 6 1226 0.778 3.088 of all energies which are radiated outwards to the physical
4 3 3497 0.477 3.544
world. The square shape of mandala significantly implies to
maintain the energy equilibrium. Arnheim [14], in his book,
‘Art and Visual Perception’, finely describes the hidden
4 ‘field of forces’ within the square where each side of the
3.5
square applies the force towards the center. Thus, the
center of square applies equal force towards its each side
3 (Fig. 6a).
2.5 Similarly, in the case of nine-square grid, each side of the
log (N)

y = -1.5478x+4.2874 nine-square grid applies the equal forces to the center

2
1.5
1 side of the grid. Accordingly, within the nine-square grid
0.5
0 0.5 1 1.5
log (s)
Graph 1. Fractal dimension 1.55.
5. Analysis of Kandariya Mahadev temple
5.1. The foundation and floor plan
In the foundation of any Hindu temple, cosmos is
embodied by laying down the diagram of vastu purusha
mandala on a selected ground. This divine diagram reflects
the image of cosmos through its fractal qualities. In the
diagram, squares are repeated within a square and other
squares within another square and so on. Each newly born
square perhaps depicts the birth of new universe in which
the centre of mandala is the source of creation of each
square, i.e., each universe. Apart from this, as the fractal
properties in vastu purusha mandala, each yugma mandala
(even numbers of squares grid) is the result of fractal
iteration of four-squares grid, i.e., pechaka mandala,
whereas each ayugma mandala (odd numbers of squares
grid) is the iteration of nine squares grid, i.e., pitah
mandala. For example, pechaka mandala produces maha-
pitah mandala (16 squares grid), and manduka chandita
mandala (64 squares grid), and pitah mandala produces
paramasayika mandala (81 squares grid) in an iterative
which is itself a square and to make a balance, this central
square also applies the equal and opposite force to each
‘field of forces’ becomes higher, because, as Arnheim
described, within the grid each square itself has its own
‘field of forces’ (Fig. 6b). Thus, the increasing numbers of
squares in a mandala help the diagram to arrest the
(cosmic) energies more concretely where the ‘field of forces’
is increased in a fractal manner. These restored energies in
the mandala radiate out to the physical world eternally
from the center (Fig. 6c).
Although the mandala is primarily square, it may be
turned into different shapes for applying to the foundation
of temple. But the final shape must evolve out of the
square, because of its essence in all Hindu architecture. As
time goes the final shape of mandala was turning into
complex through some transitional stages. In these stages,
plans of some earlier temples evidence that the fact of
radiating cosmic energy took the main role for amending
the basic shape of mandala. Surprisingly, it is turned out in
some special cases that the process of amendment is
nothing but the fractal iteration of mandala.
To begin with, the evolutionary stages of temple plans
are to be discussed. In the early ages, plans of Hindu
temple were nothing but the direct copy of vastu purusha
mandala. Parvati temple at Nachna, constructed in 6th
century A.D., is one of those temples in which the grids of
mandala and its overall shape was directly applied to
foundations, especially to the foundation of sanctuary
(Fig. 7a). After then this square and grid plan of the temple
was modified by bumping up each side outwards to the
four directions depicting the radiation of cosmic energies.
This time, the shape of temple plan is the visual expression

Please cite this article as: Md Rian I, et al. Fractal geometry as the synthesis of Hindu cosmology in Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho. Building
and Environment (2007), doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2007.01.028
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Fig. 5. Fractal characteristics of different mandalas and their iterations from the sakala mandala.

Stage 1 Plan of Parvati temple,

Naclma, 6th Century
b

Fig. 6. (a) ‘Field of forces’ within the square ([4]; redrawn by the author);
(b) radiation of forces from 9-squares grid [23]; redrawn by the author);
(c) radiation of forces from 81-squares grid.

of energy radiations whereas in the plan of Parvati temple
it was only the symbolical expression. In the sixth century
to the seventh century A.D. Hindu temples were usually
constructed on this modified plan by following the same
grids of mandala. Vishnu temple at Deogarh, constructed
in the late sixth century, is the example of this type of
temple (Fig. 7b).
As time goes, the shape of Hindu temple plan became
more complex where each sides of the square of mandala
bumps up twice. By repeating the same process, i.e., by
iterating, each side of the square of mandala attains a
fractal like pattern in which this time it expresses the
directions of radiating cosmic energies more clearly. This
pattern was employed on the plan of Surya temple at
Modhera in the 11th century (Fig. 7c). In this temple the
developed pattern was overlapped by the self-similar
pattern towards the east direction at the same axis leading
the entrance to the sanctuary and got the final outcome.
Lastly, during the 11th century, the plan of Hindu
temple had attained its final shape as the result of third
fractal iteration of mandala. This modified and matured
plan was widely adopted in the North Indian temples;
among those Kandaraiya Mahadev temple at Kahjuraho is
the most remarkable (Fig. 7d). Evolution of this temple
plan is the process of fractal iteration. Here the iteration
was lead by the cosmological events as well the symbolic
geometries and sacred proportions. There are two
hypotheses about the geometric operations of mandala to
evolve the final plan of Kandariya Mahadev temple.
According to the first hypothesis, pitah mandala, i.e.,
nine-square grid is considered as the primary shape for the
geometric operation to evolve the plan of Kandariya
Stage 2 Plan of Vishnu temple
Daogarh, 7th Century
c
Plan of Surya temple,
Stage 3 Modhara, 11th Century
d
Plan of Kandarya Mahadev
Stage 4
temple, Kahnjraho, 11th Century
Fig. 7. Evolution of the plan of Kandariya Mahadev temple from the
vastu purusha mandala through the above stages which is lead by the
radiation of cosmic energy. (a) Plan of Parvati temple, Nachna from
simple square mandala; (b) plan of Vishnu temple, Deogarh from the first
iteration of mandala; (c) plan of Surya temple, Modhera from the second
iteration of mandala; and (d) plan of Kandarya Mahadev temple,
Khajuraho from the third iteration of mandala.
Mahadev temple. In this geometric operation one smaller
square within the grid of mandala, i.e., one pada has been
taken as one unit. The outward energies generated from the
center of mandala have bumped up the middle of each side
one unit along the four directions (Fig. 8a) as the first
iteration. Then all the newly born outer corners have been
filled with meandering elements which are developed from

Please cite this article as: Md Rian I, et al. Fractal geometry as the synthesis of Hindu cosmology in Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho. Building
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Fig. 8. (a) Top: 9-Squares mandala. Bottom: sides of a 9-squares mandala are bumped up 1 pada along the cardinal directions. (b) Left: plan of Kandariya
Mahadev temple. Right up: outer corner of ‘Fig. 8a-bottom’, i.e., 1 pada and development of a element having golden proportion with a quarter of the
pada. Right bottom: outer corner of ‘Fig. 8a-bottom’ filled by the newly born element from a pada in its three sides and overlapped with the self similar but
opposite pattern to get final fractal patterned plan of the temple.

the quarter of one pada. Each meandering element is the
combination of a golden rectangle and a square born from
the same rectangle. After filling the outer corners, it has got
the fractal pattern which is overlapped with a self similar
pattern, planned for the mandapa, along the axis of
entrance to the sanctuary. Lastly, by projecting the
entrance part along the same axis, it has attained the final
shape (Fig. 8b).
According to second hypothesis, the plan of Kandariya
Mahadev temple is the result of third iteration of pitah
mandala (36-squares grid). Here the pitah mandala is rest
within the manduka chandita mandala (100-squares grid) on
the same grids. The iteration of each side is guided by the
gridlines and a circle which touches the corners of pitah
mandala. The circle depicts the endless cycles of times, the
wholeness and the consciousness due to its never-ending
shape18. The sides of another square, placed diagonally by
touching its corners to the outer edges of the manduka
chandita mandala, indicate the iteration points.
Each iteration starts from the intersection between a side
of the diagonal square and the last iterated line, and stops
at the intersection between grid line and the circle. Finally,
the iteration stops at the corners of the diagonal square
(Fig. 9). The elongations of the last iterated forms depict
the four cardinal directions. On the temple structure, these
last projected parts are open verandas, symbolizes the
cardinal directions.
This fractal operation of the plan of Kandariya Mahadev
temple makes it fractal in terms of roughness and irregular
shape. Not only the outer plan but also the plan of central
18
According to Kumar, ‘‘the circle is logically the perfect metaphor for
heaven since it is a perfect shape, without beginning or end, signifying
timelessness and eternity, a characteristically divine attribute.’’ (see [12]).
sanctuary is also the offset of outer plan, which makes whole
the plan as fractal. For analyzing the roughness of the plan
of Kandariya Mahadev temple, ‘Box-Counting Demonstra-
tion’ software has been employed on the image of plan by
taking its size 50 mm  70 mm having resolution 80 pixels/
cm and grid sizes 24, 12, 6 and 3 (Fig. 10). It gives the
following results (Table 2 (Graph 2)):
From the slope, shown in Graph 2, it is obtained that it
has fractal dimension 1.70 which depicts its high degree of
roughness or details. The smooth curve as a straight line in
the graph describes the uniformity of its roughness. This
degree of roughness or details of plan has been accentuated
in the structure to make the whole structure complex and
textured.
5.2. Elevation
Hindu cosmology, manifested in the plan of Hindu
temple two dimensionally, was also manifested in its
elevation but three dimensionally and more symbolically.
For the elevation too, sthapati19 took the fractal as a
medium to visualize the manifested form of cosmos and to
make the pilgrims meditating for spiritual journey. To
apply the fractal as a tool for constructing the temple,
perhaps, sthapati did not use any mathematical fractal
theory or formulae, but he influenced by the nature where
God himself create mountains, trees, leaves, etc. as the
examples of fractal [5].
In the structure of almost all Hindu temples, sthapati
took the mountain as a model of fractal object where
19
In Brihatsamhita and Sthapatyaveda, architects of Hindu temples and
residences were called as sthapati. It’s a Sanskrit term comes from the
ancient Hindu scriptures.

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Fig. 9. Geometric operation of mandalas and that of some symbolic geometry for the development of the plan of Kandariya Mahadev temple.

Fig. 10. Box counting operation of the plan of Kandariya Mahadev temple. Extreme left—plan; (a) grid size 24; (b) grid size 12; (c) grid size 6; and (d) grid
size 3.

4
Table 2
3.5
Step Grid size ðSÞ Marked boxes ðNÞ Log ðSÞ Log ðNÞ
3
1 24 249 1.380 2.396 y = -1.7013x + 4.7409
2 12 806 1.079 2.906 2.5
log (N)

3 6 2554 0.778 3.407

2
4 3 8627 0.477 3.936
1.5

self-similar mounts are repeated and recurred, pointing 1

towards the sky. They made the rising towers, shikhara on 0.5
the temple structure by copying the form of mountain
which dominates on the earth, and the replicas of soaring 0 0.5 1 1.5
towers on shikhara depict the series of repetitive universes
log (s)
[15]. Even the literal meaning of shikhara is also mountain.
Besides, mythical mount meru was also the aim to adopt Graph 2. Fractal dimension 1.70.
the form of a mountain in the structure of Hindu temples
to manifest the cosmic events. Especially in the case kailash where (according to Hindu beliefs) the Lord Shiva
of Kandariya Mahadev temple, the mountain form of dwells, because this temple was dedicated to the Lord
shikhara has further significance which depicts the mount Shiva. Though the appearance of shikhara in all Hindu

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Fig. 11. (a) Repetitions of towers and their elements in the shikhara; and (b) whole form of shikhara is repeated in a part within another part (marked by
red color). Repetitions of tower above the mandapas (marked by green color) create angle for upward eye movement to the summit of main shikhara.
temples are mountainous, but they are unique from each
other regarding the styles of repetition of towers,
ornamentations on tower facades, tower slopes and their
geometric structures.
In the case of Kandariya Mahadev temple, the main
tower above the sanctuary is repeated at its four sides
and the same process of repetition is continued in
each newly born smaller tower, and again this process
repeated in the last newly born smaller tower (Fig. 11a). At
the same time smaller towers are repeated on the body
of main tower in which the whole tower attains
such an arrangement where one can easily feel the
whole in a part within another part. Above the assembly
hall, i.e., mandapa the main tower is repeated within
its own body and at the same time its whole body is
repeated along the axis of mandapa to the entrance. This
arrangement of repetitive towers above the mandapa
(assembly hall) and arthamandapa (entrance porch) is such
that it makes to move up one’s eyes automatically to the
main tower above sanctuary and from that travel up
through the summit of finial to the axis of cosmos
(Fig. 11b). This highest point of the shikhara above
sanctuary is believed as the ultimate point of liberation
from the physical world.
The beauty of shikhara lies behind the proportions of the
arrangement of replicas. In Hindu temples the repetitions
of the towers are not arbitrarily, but follow some rules and
proportions for the welfare of the society as well as the
universe.20 Its proportions have deep significance; because
if the temple is constructed according to the mathematical
system properly, then it can function in harmony with the
20
According to Brihatsamhita Hindu temples must be perfect which will
reflect the perfectness in this world as well as in spiritual world. R. J.
Mehta found out that ‘‘There was the necessity for perfection but not
necessarily absolute perfect. The ancient texts lay down the mathematical
concept of imperfection, that is, not a whole number but one where a small
fraction is left over on division [15]’’. Whereas Volwahsen points out, in
Hindu architecture the rules of proportion makes the structure well-
balanced, architecturally pleasant and perfect within the mathematical
concept of imperfection (see [11]).
Please cite this article as: Md Rian I, et al. Fractal geometry as the synthesis of Hindu cosmology in Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho. Building
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9
mathematical basis of the universe.21 Almost in every
Hindu temple in North India, the rule of repetition of
towers is almost the same. On the shikhara above the
sanctuary of Kandariya Mahadev temple, the second larger
tower is just half in size of the main central tower and the
shorter towers are one-third and one-fourth in size of the
main tower. Placing of the smaller towers on the elevation
is such that the peaks of each smaller tower pointing
towards the summit of main central tower, makes the
impression of unity in infinity towards cosmic axis.
It turns out that the stratification of the towers above the
sanctuary follows the golden sequence as the basic rule for
arrangement. Let’s take the distance between two peaks of
main tower and second tower as a side of a square
(ABCD). Then, an arc is drawn whose center is located at
M point and radius is MA (Fig. 12). The arc touches the
peak of third tower and intersects the extension of a line
DC at point G. Then, a square (EFGC) is drawn by taking
a line CG as a side. Now the square (EFGC) is copied as
FHIG whose side GI determines the distance between third
peak and fourth peak. Again a second arc is drawn from a
point O by taking the radius OF which touches the peak of
fifth tower. It produces a new square (JKLI). Interestingly,
the peaks of alternative towers, i.e., the peaks of first, third
and fifth towers also obey the golden ratio, where the
distance between peaks of first and third towers determines
the square (XYGD) and that of third and fifth towers
determines the square (UVLG).
Another significance of such arrangement of smaller
towers on the shikhara of Kandariya Mahadev temple is
the man’s perception for seeing the whole body of shikhara
in its self-similar parts from any location of view (Fig. 13).
This fractal property is also reflected from the degree of
details in each part of shikhara.
One can experience the same level of details of the whole
body of shikhara in its self-similar parts. To analyze the
consistency of details or roughness of whole shikhara and
that of its parts more concretely, ‘box counting method’
21
Michell [10, p. 73].
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Fig. 12. Peaks of all self similar towers follow the rule golden sequence.
Fig. 13. Whole in a part in the shikhara: (a) whole body of shikhara above
the sanctuary; (b) self similar part of the whole shikhara; and (c) self
similar smaller part of the whole shikhara.
Fig. 14. Box counting operation of the shikhara ‘Fig. 13a’. Extreme left—Shikhara, ‘Fig. 13a’; (a) grid size 24; (b) grid size 12; (c) grid size 6; and (d) grid
size 3.
Fig. 15. Box counting operation of the part of shikhara ‘Fig. 13b’. Extreme left—part of shikhara, ‘Fig. 13b’; (a) grid size 24; (b) grid size 12; (c) grid size 6;
(d) grid size 3.
Please cite this article as: Md Rian I, et al. Fractal geometry as the synthesis of Hindu cosmology in Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho. Building
and Environment (2007), doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2007.01.028
has been applied to the images of those parts for
calculating their fractal dimensions. For the experiment,
all three images are taken as the same size of 37 mm 
52 mm having the same resolution 80 pixel/cm. For the
experiment ‘Box Counting Demonstration’ software has
been employed for counting the marked boxes. By taking
the grid sizes 24, 12, 6 and 3, marked boxes has been
counted (Figs. 14–16). Then by applying the grid sizes and
their respective numbers of counted boxes in a log–log
graph the following results have been obtained (Tables 3–5
(Graphs 3–5)):
From resulted graphs of above three figures (Figs. 14–16),
it is observed that the fractal dimensions of those three
images are 1.84, 1.83 and 1.80, respectively which are
high fractal value and almost the same. As discussed before,
the level of details having these fractal dimensions
are not distinguishable in naked eyes and shows the
high level of details. Accordingly, it is concluded that the
degree of details of the whole body of shikhara and its
self-similar smaller parts are high and uniform. At the
same time it is observed from the graphs that in each
case all the points lies on a straight line, i.e., the resulted
curve is a smooth straight line in the graph which shows
that in each part of the shikhara degree of details is uniform.
Therefore, it can be said that from any viewpoint there is a
consistency of the richness of details in the whole body of
shikhara.
Now the same experiment has been done with the front
elevation by the same process. By employing the same
computer software (Box Counting Demonstration) on the
front elevation (Fig. 17) the following results are obtained
shown in Table 6 (Graph 6).
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Fig. 16. Box counting operation of the smaller part of shikhara ‘Fig. 13c’. Extreme left—Smaller part of shikhara, ‘Fig. 13c’; (a) grid size 24; (b) grid size
12; (c) grid size 6; and (d) grid size 3.

Table 3 4

Step Grid size ðSÞ Marked boxes ðNÞ Log ðSÞ Log ðNÞ 3.5

1 24 133 1.380 2.124 3

y = -1.8336x + 4.6737
2 12 485 1.079 2.686 2.5
3 6 1744 0.778 3.242

log (N)
4 3 6123 0.477 3.787 2

1.5

Table 4 0.5

Step Grid size ðSÞ Marked boxes ðNÞ Log ðSÞ Log ðNÞ
0 0.5 1 1.5
1 24 123 1.380 2.090 log (s)
2 12 443 1.079 2.646
3 6 1608 0.778 3.206 Graph 4. Fractal dimension 1.83.
4 3 5537 0.477 3.743

Table 5 3.5

Step Grid size ðSÞ Marked boxes ðNÞ Log ðSÞ Log ðNÞ 3
y = -1.7970x + 4.5723
1 24 122 1.380 2.086 2.5
log (N)

2 12 434 1.079 2.637 2

3 6 1533 0.778 3.186
4 3 5078 0.477 3.706 1.5

0.5
4
0 0.5 1 1.5
3.5
log (s)
3
y = -1.8422x + 4.6702 Graph 5. Fractal dimension 1.80.
2.5
log (N)

1.5
From the slope it is obtained that it has fractal
dimension 1.87 which is higher but near about similar to
1 that of whole shikhara (above sanctuary) and its self similar
0.5 parts within the shikhara (i.e., ‘a’, ‘b’ and ‘c’ in ‘Fig. 13’),
and its resulted smooth straight line in the graph describes
0 0.5 1 1.5
its uniformity of details. Thus it is observed that not only
from the distinctive part, shikhara, but also from the whole
log (s)
elevation one can experience the consistent degree of details
Graph 3. Fractal dimension 1.84. from anywhere outside.

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Fig. 17. Box counting operation of the front elevation. Extreme left—front elevation; (a) grid size 24; (b) grid size 12; (c) grid size 6; and (d) grid size 3.

Table 6

Step Grid size ðSÞ Marked boxes ðNÞ Log ðSÞ Log ðNÞ

1 24 123 1.380 2.090

2 12 443 1.079 2.646
3 6 1637 0.778 3.214
4 3 5976 0.477 3.776

3.5

3
y = -1.859x + 4.667
2.5
log (N)

1.5

0.5
Fig. 18. Elevations and plans of: (a) Shikhara of Adinatha temple (900
AD); (b) Shikhara of Paraswanatha temple (950 AD); and (c) Shikhara of
0 0.5 1 1.5 Kandariya Mahadev temple (1050 AD).
log (s)
time this process is guided by the shape of foundation
Graph 6. Fractal dimension 1.87.
(Figs. 19 and 20).

These unique fractal characters on the whole body of 5.3. Details

shikhara above the sanctuary of Kandariya Mahadev
temple are born by the process of iteration from a single
central tower which is known as unipratiti. Shikhara of
Adinatha temple (900 A.D.) as the unipratiti and the
shikhara of Paraswanatha temple (950 A.D.) as the result
of third iteration of unipratiti are the evidences for
production of the shikhara of Kandariya Mahadev
temple. In this process, self-similar smaller towers are
generated along its four sides. Then again it produces
smaller towers around its three sides outwards. It continues
up to five steps and gets the final form of whole shikhara
as multipratiti (Fig. 18). Motifs of shikhara are the
lotus petals. Shikhara is also the image of lotus blossom
which symbolizes the creation as it sprouts from Vishnu’s
navel. It is the symbol of purity. The budding of
multipratiti shikhara as the iteration follows the process
of germination of lotus flower from its bud and at the same
The abundance of details in the temple of Kandariya
Mahadev not only makes the temple highly fractal in terms
of roughness, but also displays the theme of godly beings
who are the important characters in Hindu cosmology and
philosophy. Numbers of figures displaying sexual gestures
on the temple fabrics symbolizes the creation. In other
words, the smallest details of the temple carry the concept
of creation. Naked eyes go to the tiniest details up to some
level, but the story or the images of the gods makes a
passage of spiritual journey for the ‘third eye’ (power of
imagination) to perceive further to the eternity. Though
geometrically the details are not the exact repetitions of its
parent body of the temple, but it repeats the same concept/
theme of the body.
Tiniest figures give the impression of paramanu (atom),
the smallest time unit, the consciousness which acts as the

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Fig. 19. Plan of shikhara. Development of the multipratiti shikhara of Kandariya Mahadev temple from unipratiti by the process of iteration.

Fig. 20. Development of multipratiti shikhara as the multi square-prisms from a single square-prism by repeating the smaller scaled self-similar prism
outwards.

Fig. 21. (a) Ceiling of mandapa in Kandariya Mahadev temple (source: internet); and (b) development of the pattern of ceiling panel in Kandariya
Mahadev temple from a bud by the process of iteration.

microcosm of the largest time unit, cosmos. Like the
exterior, the interior of Kandariya Mahadev temple is also
full of figuristic and floral details in which figuristic details
protects the sanctuary from demons and floral details
depicts the cosmic events. On the ceiling of this temple, the
floral pattern of panels is most noteworthy for depicting
the cosmos where, again, fractal takes the main role for
depiction. Here the combination of some ceiling panels
makes the pattern such a way that it seems the flowers are
blossomed from buds recursively. From each bud four
petals are bloomed then from four petals eight petals are
generated and again from this eight petal-flower a 12 petal
bloom is born. Here the bloom depicts the creation of
universe from the lotus bud sprouting from the navel of
Vishnu. Each bloom from a single bud is stratified by
making the level difference. These differences of levels and
concentric floral patterns make a passage for the spiritual
journey to the unit ness of infinity and thus help the man to
practice for getting the ultimate liberation (Fig. 21).
The ceiling panels are also finely detailed which maintain
the degree of skillful roughness in the whole complex. To
analyze the consistency of degree of details in the whole
structure, the ‘Box Counting Demonstration’ software has
been employed. In this case, the image size of a part of
ceiling details has been taken as 50 mm  50 mm with the
resolution 80 pixels=cm (Fig. 22). By taking the grid sizes
16, 8, 4 and 2 the following results are obtained as shown in
Table 7 (Graph 7).
From the slope it is obtained that it has fractal
dimension 1.78 depicting high degree of details and its
smooth curve as straight line depicts the uniformity of
details in the panel.
Fractal pattern of the plan of Kandariya Mahadev
temple, replicas of detailed towers, and rhythmic growth of
horizontal friezes, create a harmony of fractal characters in
the whole complex. High level of details in everywhere of
the temple adds fractal flavor of roughness throughout the
structure.
Fractal dimensions of the plan of Kandariya Mahadev
temple, its elevation, parts of the elevation and smaller
details are ranging from 1.7 to 1.8, which confirms the high
fractal value of the whole temple complex from any view

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Fig. 22. Box counting operation of the ceiling panel. Extreme left—ceiling panel; (a) grid size 24; (b) grid size 12; (c) grid size 6; and (d) grid size 3.

Hindu temples but in a different way. In this paper Hindu

temples evidence the deep relationship between the
Table 7
fractal geometry and the deepest truth, which is being
Step Grid size ðSÞ Marked boxes ðNÞ Log ðSÞ Log ðNÞ rediscovered in the contemporary architecture. Thus, the
‘past’ present in the future and ‘future’ contained in the
1 24 264 1.380 2.422
2 8 1014 1.079 3.006
‘past’ [16].
3 4 3583 0.778 3.554 Although, in modern architecture some buildings such as
4 2 10685 0.477 4.029 Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie houses and Antonio Gaudi’s
buildings reflect the fractal characteristics with their
gentle and organic complexity, but their key element of
complexity were shaded by the trend of ‘‘simple and brute
4.5
forms’’ of the modern architecture. However, temple
4 architecture was not strongly influenced by the modern
3.5 architecture and continues its strong and strict guidelines
of design by reflecting traditional fractal properties.
3
y = -1.7837x + 4.9089 Perhaps, Lotus temple (1986) in Delhi for the Baha’i
2.5 communities is an exception that sheds a new light of the
log (N)

2 possibility of using the fractal geometry wrapped by

1.5
1 the term ‘fractal’ and setting up some mathematical
0.5
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
log (s)
Graph 7. Fractal dimension 1.78.
point. Whereas the smooth curve in the log–log graph for
each part of the temple confirms the uniformity of details in
the temple structure from any point of view by naked eyes.
To sum up, Hindu temple is not the abode of God but
the form of God and since it was strictly suggested to be the
microcosm of cosmos, all Hindu temples have the common
basic characteristics along with some unique features.
These unique features of Hindu temples, exhibited fractal
properties and complex form, act as the signature of Hindu
art and architecture. This paper has presented Kandariya
Mahadev temple at Khajuraho as the icon of Hindu
temples.
Modern architecture lacks fractalness and complexity,
and carries the ‘‘simple and brute forms.’’ But Jencks [24]
believes that there has been a ‘paradigm shift’ in the
contemporary architecture. According to him ‘‘fractals,
wave forms and the structure of the cosmos will be resonated
with the new buildings’’ which indicates the replication of
modern form, of course by achieving its religious,
philosophical and functional requirements. After coining
formulas, now it has a great possibility to experiment
about the refining of conventional temple-form or search-
ing for new form of complexity related with Hindu
1.4 1.6
cosmology with the consideration of ritual guides.
The decline of using the fractal geometry in modern
architecture became soon eradicated by the strong affection
towards the chaos and complexity in contemporary
architecture. For searching the new, complex, fractal and
chaotic forms in the contemporary architecture, on the one
hand, manual experiments of architectural elements with the
fractal geometry are extensively practiced. On the other
hand, by adopting the theories of folds, fractals, chaos,
complexity and algorithms, ‘computer architecture’ has been
developed that translates the theories into the architecture
[13].22 Accordingly, the fractal geometry not only analyzes
22
For example, by using the drafting tools, fractal geometry has been
applied manually for the plan of Zvi Hecker’s Galinski School of Berlin
(1995). In the plan Zvi Hecker manifested sunflower by arranging the
classrooms as the repetition of bent triangular petals of various scales with
their spiraling ‘celestial construction’, reflecting the dynamic beauty of
Tornado and spiral rhythm. Besides, Lab Architects’ Federation Square at
Melbourn (2002) is another example where ‘computer architecture’
produced the elegancy and complexity of fractal on the facade by using
the right-angled triangle as a single motif and the Pinwheel grid, thus
enhancing the beauty of complexity in the architecture, and harmonizing
the building with the complex pattern of city fabric.

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the old buildings and the existed urban patterns and growth,
but also helps to create a countless unimaginable forms and
patterns for finding new possibilities of space as well as
aesthetic in contemporary architecture.
Acknowledgment
This work was supported by an Inha University research
grant.
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